My Thoughts:
Ms. Lim does a mash up of European and East Asian fairy tales to create a magical girl power, love triangle, dragons, demons and curse adventure story that was a devour worthy book on a cold winter evening. I just love how these authors of color are pushing their way into fantasy while also privileging their own cultural stories and mythologies. I have nothing against the fey, and TLOTR is always going to be the gold standard in fantasy and world building, but face it, these characters, even if not human are white. Their culture, their values. . .white. Julie Kagawa has opened up the door for more #AAPI fantasy writers and I love it!!
Shiori, later known as Lina when she is cursed by her step mother, is a spoiled, head strong, but beloved princess who finds that she has magic in a kingdom where magic has died. Yes, nothing novel about that. But what makes Six Crimson Cranes so fabulous is that Lina loves strong. She takes abuse and hardship with humility. Her brothers love and protect her as much as she loves and protects them. She is an unabashed lover of food. Most importantly, she is lovable and she learns and reflects like someone much older than her 17 years.
Finally, a sign of a well written book is that when I look at the % number at the bottom of my Kindle and see that I am over halfway to the end, I already start getting frustrated and sad because I know that book 2 by Ms. Lim is not coming out yet. I start slowing down my reading even if I want to tear through to the end. What makes it good is that although I start to slow down by putting the book down, five minutes later, I have to pick it up. The twists and turns, as well as the surprises again, are not novel, but appreciated all the same. That is a sign of a great fantasy book.
Mild blood and gore, several almost kisses makes this appropriate for middle grades as well as YA (and adults). Now to wait until August for The Dragon's Promise.
From the Publisher:
Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.
A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear--no matter what the cost.
Weaving together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Elizabeth Lim has crafted a fantasy like no other, and one that will stay with readers long after they've turned the last page.
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